KTM’s home race witnessed a rollercoaster of a ride for Brad Binder as the Red Bull man defied the odds and ‘sketchy’ conditions to take a breathtaking victory in the AustrianGP.

Starting from 10th on the MotoGP grid, the South African was suffering what he himself described as a ‘horrendous race’ until the rain began to fall with around two-thirds done. Jack Miller was the first to enter the pits with five laps to go by which time Binder had tagged onto the back of the leading group. One lap later he was in the lead as each rider in front chose to swap bikes. Initially thinking he had it made, the KTM race winner suddenly realised what he was up against as he hit the third sector.

“I knew it was my chance to take a gamble as I saw people ducking into pitlane and I just decided to shoot forward and go,” Binder admitted from the post-race press conference.

“It was a really good decision for another half a lap, because I could still ride really fast in the first sector, and the second sector more or less. And then I got to turn five and it was soaking wet. When the tyres were hot and the brakes were hot, it was quite okay, you could manage it and it was safe but as soon as they cooled off, man, it was a long two laps.

“When I went to bed last night, just all I wanted to do today was get a podium. It's been so long,” he continued.

“I think it's been the longest since I don't know how many years, that I haven't finished on the podium. I've been close a few times, a few fourth places but never been back.

“To be honest I was having a horrendous race before I decided to stay out and everyone else came in. The rear tyre was like nothing I've had all week, so every time I tried to brake it would just slide everywhere. I'd go for the throttle and I wouldn't go forward, I was having a huge struggle out there.

“When I saw it starting to rain, that's when I saw my opportunity to really catch up and try and take advantage, because where I was, maybe sixth or seventh, as soon as I closed on to that group I saw a big opportunity. With it being our own Grand Prix I had to take a gamble.

“I closed up on to the front group and I was thinking, it's four laps to go, and I could see the guys are getting ready to come in - because I saw Marc look behind him. I couldn't decide, do I go, do I not and then I just decided at the last moment, when I saw the whole group pull into the pits, that I had to try.

“The first lap was good and then the last two were something else. I got around more or less okay with two laps to go. The last lap, the brakes went completely cold and so did the tyres so I couldn't stop. No matter how hard I pulled the lever, nothing was happening and I really struggled to stay on track.

“I just tried my absolute best. I just tried to make sure I stopped, got around the corner and just went flat out on straights. Just to stay on track for the last lap was virtually impossible - actually, I thought it was finished a couple times, because in turn three I wasn't stopping. The only thing that was working a little bit was my rear brake so I was pushing my rear brake and the thing was sideways. I touched the steering lock and went straight a little bit but managed to stop and stay on the track.

“The feeling when I saw the flag was a feeling of relief that it was over, and another that I couldn't believe that we had won today.

“Anyway, sometimes you got to take the gamble and today it worked so I'm super happy about that. I also remember my brother telling me that he was impressed about how much grip there was in the wet on the slicks, so I think that had something to do with this situation but you know what, I would have happily crashed and given it a try. At the end of the day I'm really happy to be here right now.”

The end of the dramatic race was met with further controversy after Binder was hit with a three-second penalty for track limit infringements on his final lap. With a 10-second gap to eventual second-place-man Pecco Bagnaia - who had swapped to his wet bike and was on a charge - the penalty had no reflection on the overall result, but many questioned whether the ruling was appropriate in those conditions. The South African, however, reacted in his usual laid-backed manner.

“I don't know. I don't care right now,” he admitted honestly.

"If I came second or missed the podium because of the penalty I would have been bleak but anyway, it worked out, they can give me the three-seconds, I'm quite happy to take them.

“It's not easy to stay on track [in those conditions]. I had zero intention of going onto the green, that's for sure. I think I made my last lap a lot longer than I had to, but there's nothing you can do if you are not stopping and the rear wheel is next to you. You're not turning, so you can decide whether you want to go straight or you want to crash. So, I think I made a good decision.

“This wasn't racing this was surviving. It was just trying to finish the race, it wasn't trying to go fast. To be honest, I've made a good improvement in the wet this week. Riding here, I had a little bit of time and I understand how to ride with the Michelin's and the MotoGP bike much better in the wet conditions now - well as far as full wet goes, and I'm happy with that. Today, I just decided to roll the dice and see what happened. It was a decision that I didn't really second guess but it was sketchy, with it working out, it was pretty scary but super happy with the outcome,” he concluded with a grin.